Re: Question on Radioactive Source Disposal

[BLHamrick@AOL.COM]

In a message dated 04/13/2002 11:38:37 AM Pacific Daylight Time, hacare@MINDSPRING.COM writes:



> A local high school finds themselves in possession of two 0.1 microcuries sources of PO-210  (half life 138 days).  The sources pre-date the current teacher who has been there over ten years.  Therefore the activity in the sources should be down around ten orders of magnitude.  The school wants to get rid of these things.  Is there a minimum activity level where a source can be disposed of as clean waste.  If not, does someone know of some way to legally dispose of these without it costing and arm and two legs??


Generally speaking if the source was initially distributed to a specific or general licensee, there is no time at which it can "become" exempt.  If, however, it was initially distributed to an exempt person, then the sources may be disposed in accordance with the instructions provided with the original source (in many cases, e.g., most domestically-produced smoke detectors, this will be in the normal trash).


The quantity of Po-210 that can be distributed to a person exempt from licensing, in California (CCR, title 17, section 30235), and in accordance with NRC regulations (10 CFR 30.71, schedule B) is 0.1 microcuries, thus these were probably distributed to persons exempt from licensure.


HOWEVER, the NRC regulations in 30.18 specifically exempt persons from requirements only "to the extent that such person receives, possesses, uses, transfers, owns, or acquires byproduct material in individual quantities each of which does not exceed the applicable quantity set forth in Sec. 30.71, Schedule B."  Note, this does not expressly include "disposal."  It is silent on transfer for disposal, although, in the case of domestic smoke detectors, the NRC has expressly said that where they were distributed to persons exempt, they may be disposed in normal trash (NRC HPPOS-150).


Since the NRC is the only entity authorized to license the distribution of byproduct material to persons exempt in the U.S., they might be the best ones to answer this question (that is presuming Po-210 is byproduct material...it is, isn't it?)


Barbara